Toy cap revolver with bullet supports



y 9, 1961 M. E. HIRSCH ETAL 2,983,064

TOY CAP REVOLVER WITH BULLET SUPPORTS Filed July 22, 1960' 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 a -S A May 9, 19 61 M; E. HIRSCH EIAL TOY CAP REVOLVER WITH BULLET SUPPORTS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 22, 1960 I S. 2 v2 My T w z m m W 7 I D M I atent 2,983,064 Patented May 9, 1961 United States TOY CAP REVOLVER WITH BULLET SUPPORTS Mahlon E. Hirsch, Fairview, and Raymond J. Lohr, Erie, Pa., assignors to Louis Marx & Company, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed July 22, 1960, Ser. No. 44,628

1 10 Claims. CI. 42-58) This invention relates to toy guns, especially cap guns, and more particularly to such a gun which fires harmless bullets.

The general object of the present invention is to improve toy cap guns. One primary object is to employ a conventional noise-making cap toexpel a light weight, harmless bullet, thereby adding to the realism of the gun.

"Another object is to provide a supply of caps which are automatically fed for successive use. Still another object is to provide a gun with a supply of bullets, as for example, by the provision of a cylinder in a revolver.

Stillfurthen'objects are to provide bullets which are inexpensive and therefore expendable; to provide appropriate supports for receiving such bullets; and to advantageously interrelate the bullet support and the capfiring anvil for the present purpose.

To accomplish the foregoining general objects, and other more specific objects which will hereinafter appear, our invention resides in the toy gun elements and their relation one to another, as are hereinafter more particularly described in the following specification. The specification is accompanied by drawings in which:

Fig- 1 is a side elevation of a gun embodying features of our invention; 7 I

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the loading of the cylinder with bullets;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view explanatory of the cap feed and the cylinder indexing mechanism;

Fig. 4is anexploded perspective view showing the parts of the gun; and v I Fig. 5 is a partially sectioned fragmentary elevation of the mechanism, and illustrates the relation of the parts at the moment of impact of the hammer.

Referring to the drawing, and more particularly to Fig. 1, the toy gun comprises a barrel 12, and a bullet support 14 aligned with the barrel. The support 14 has a passage 16(Fig. 5) therethroughfor propellant gas. There is an' anvil20 ;behind the bullet support 14, and a hammer 22 which cooperates with the anvil 20. There is also a meanstto hold the cap at the anvil 20, and in the present case this means includes a cap guide 24 and a feed finger 26. The anvil 20 has a hole 28 which is aligned with, orat least in flow communication with,

the passage 16.

v The mechanismfurther includes means whereby the trigger 30 releases the hammer 22 to hit the cap. The bullet, shownat 32 in Figs. 4 and 5, is propelled through the barrel 12 (Fig. 1)' by the combustion gas resulting from explosion of the cap.

,As will be seen from inspection of Fig. 5, the bullet 32 is hollow, and thin-walled, and fully open at the rear. It is preferably molded of asuitable plastics material. The bullet support 14 is a cylinder which is dimensioned to freely slidably receive the bullet 32 thereover. v

The caps are preferably in roll form, and reverting to Fig. 1, the gunincludes an open ended support pin or cap roll support 34. This receives a roll of caps 36, and a door 38 is provided for access to the cap roll support 34. In the present case the door is hinged on a vertical axis at '40. After a new roll of caps has been put into the gun the door 38 may be turned rearwardly until the cap roll chamber '42 is closed. The door preferably includes an upward extension 44 which facilities threading the cap strip upward through the cap feed mechanism.

The cap feed means comprises the upper edge 46 (Figs. 3, 4 and 5) of a cap strip feed finger 26. This cooperates with a stationary cap strip guide shown at 24. The cap strip 48 extends upward from the cap roll 36 past the guide 24, on which it is held by the feed finger 26. The cap above the guide 24 rests on the anvil 20 previously referred to.

The gun also is arranged to hold a supply of bullets, and for this purpose the gun simulates a revolver and has a rotatable cylinder 50. This has a ring of chambers (or one continuous annular chamber) for receiving a plurality of bullets which are to be aligned successively with the barrel 12. In the simplest form, the top chamber or bullet is the one which is aligned with the barrel. In the present case there are six such chambers or bullets disposed equi-distantly around the cylinder, with corresponding bullet supports 14 at the rear end, all as previously described.

The gun further includes a means to index the cylinder, and in the present case the rear end of the cylinder has six radial ratchet teeth shown at 52 (Fig. 4), and the mechanism includes a pawl 54 for engaging the ratchet teeth of the cylinder. In the present mechanism the pawl 54 and the cap strip feed dog or element '46, are parts of the same feed finger 26 previously referred to.

The entire cylinder is preferably a cast body. It may be diecast, and as cast it includes the rear wall which acts as a plurality of anvils, the supports 14 with their passages 16 for the bullets, and the openings 28. A forward wall 56 (Fig. 2) may be added, which has openings 57 aligned with the supports, in order to facilitate loading the bullets into the cylinder. This may be done i at the side of the cylinder, as shown in Fig. 2. Except for the forward wall 56, the cylinder may be hollow inside, and therefore the chambers previously referred to need not be complete or individual chambers, as in a real revolver, and instead they may connect or be open inside the cylinder, as shown in Fig. 5. However,there are chambers in the sense that the continuous annular chamber is made up of chamber spaces. Also in the present case there is a separation at the front wall 56,

t as shown at 57 in Fig. 2, and at the supports 14 which receive the individual bullets.

The hammer and the cap feed means and the cylinder indexing means are all operated by the trigger. Various mechanisms are known or may be devised to produce these actions, and the particular mechanism here shown is merely by way of one example.

Referring to Fig. 4 the hammer 22 oscillates on a pivot or stud '60 which is cast integrally with the far side of the gun body. A hammer spring 66 is slid over the stud. The hammer has a bearing 62 which fits over the stud 60, and the hammer is held on the stud by a headed fastener 64, the shank of which is driven into the stud 60 with a force-fit. One end of spring 66 is hooked at 68 to fit around the back of the hammer, while the other end 70 bears against a part of the gun body. The action is such that the hammer is urged forward by the spring.

The trigger 30 is pivotally mounted on a pin or stud 76 which is aligned with and received in the cap roll support pin 34. The trigger casting may itself provide a partial housing made up of a bottom wall 72, and a side and hollowed to act as a bearing.

wall 74, for receiving and protectively housing the cap roll 36. The cap support pin 34 is enlarged in diameter If desired the trigger casting may instead be provided with a trunnion projecting from the far side. i i

The trigger casting includes a rearwardly projecting arm 78 having a sidewardly projecting stud or lift 85.;

This cooperates with an abutment 82 which projects forwardly from the lowerend of the hammer. On reflection it will be understood that when the trigger is pulled back' the lift 80 rises against the abutment $2, and so turns the hammer back against the force of the hammer spring 68. However, when the trigger is nearly all the way back, the abutment escapes from and moves freely downward past the lift 80, thus releasing the hammer for its forward blow, to explode the cap then at the top anvil. When the trigger is released the lift 8% slides downward over the sloping top surface of the abutment 82, and the lower end of the hammer may move rearwardly somewhat because of the slotted bearing 62, following which it. again moves forward under the influence of the hamrner spring, thus preparing the parts for the next operation of the trigger. The trigger itself is urged forward by a pull spring 84, described later.

The rearwardly projecting arm 78 of the trigger casting also has atrunnion or pivot 86. This enters a hole 88 at the lower end of the feed finger 26. Thus the feed finger is urged upward when the trigger is pulled. The upper end of the feed finger is urged resiliently forward by means of pull spring 84, the forward end of which is hooked over a tab 90 at the lower end of the feed finger, below the'hole 88, and the rear end of the spring is connected to the stationary gun body. The angular disposi-v tion of spring 84 is such that it serves a number of purposes. One is to pull the feed finger downward; another is to thereby urge the trigger forward; and still another is to urge the upper end of the feed finger forward.

When the feed finger rises, its upper edge 46 engages the cap strip and moves it upward an amount corresponding to the pitch or spacing between successive caps, that is, the units of gun powder along the strip. Also, the pawl point 54- engages a ratchet tooth of the cylinder and turns the cylinder one sixth of a revolution, or enough to bring the next bullet into alignment with the barrel. The cylinder may have any usual detent arrangement (not shown) to further insure registration of a bullet with the barrel, and to hold the cylinder in position when the pawl moves downward.

The opening 28 through the anvil may be made cruciform in shape, as shown in Fig. 5, thus increasing the size of the opening without, however, losing the desired continuity of anvil surface which insures successful detonation of the cap.

In accordance with usual practice, the barrel and body of the gun may be cast in two, halves, divided on a vertical plane, and subsequently secured together in edge-to-edge relation. or may be one piece which is cast with one side of the gun, and similar remark applies to the frame of the hand grip 94. The latter is completed by securing two molded sides or grips 96 on opposite sides of the frame, and these grips may be molded out of a suitable plastics material, and may be suitably knurled and ornamented.

It is believed that the construction and operation of our improved toy gun, as well as the advantages thereof, will be apparent from the foregoing detailed description. The gun may be fired repeatedly like a true revolver, and each, shot is accompanied by the propulsion of a bullet. The cylinder is loaded with bullets through the forward end of the cylinder. The bullets here are simply loaded at the side of the cylinder, as shown in Fig. 2, although the cylinder could be arranged to swing out, if desired. The bullets are light in weight, and inexpensive to make, and therefore expendable as well as harmless.

The trigger guard 92 (Fig. 1) may be split,

all of the known convenience of such a strip. The gases which result from firing of the cap are used as a propellant gas to discharge the bullet. The rear surface of the cylinder is itself used as an anvil surface, and therefore remains relatively clean because it is self-cleaning. This construction also provides maximum efiiciency in the transfer of the propellant gas directly from the anvil to the bullet, compared, for example, with the use of an anvil which is behind and separate from the cylinder, for such'a construction would introduce a leakage point between the anvil and the cylinder.

It will be understood that whilewe have. shown the gun in the form of a pistol, it also may be made in the form of a rifle, the said rifle preferably being provided with a cylinder when using the particular mechanism here shown. It will be understood that while wehave shown and described our invention in a'preferredform, changes may be made in the structure shown without departing from the scope of the invention, as sought to'be defined in the following claims.

1. A toy gun comprising a barrel, a bullet support for receiving a light weight, hollow, generally cylindrical bullet, said support being aligned with thebarrel and having a passage therethrough for propellant gas, an anvil behind said bullet support, a hammer, a trigger, means to a hollow bullet which is open at the rear, an anvil behind said bullet support, a hammer, a trigger, means to hold a cap at the anvil, said anvil having a hole aligned with said passage, and means whereby the trigger releases the hammer to hit the cap, the bullet being propelled through the barrel by the combustion gas resulting from explosion of the cap.

3. A toy gun comprising a barrel, a bullet support aligned with the barrel, and having a passage therethrough for propellant gas, an anvil behind said bullet support, a hammer, 'a trigger, a cap roll support, a cap feed means, said anvil having ahole. aligned with the passage, and means whereby the trigger feeds a cap to the anvil and releases the hammer to; hit the cap, the bullet being propelled through the barrel by the combustion gas resulting from the explosion of the cap.

4. A toy gun comprising a barrel, a bullet support aligned with the barrel and having a passage therethrough for propellant gas, said bullet support being a cylinder dimensioned to freely slidablyreceive thereover a hollow bullet which is open at the rear, an anvil behind said bullet support, a hammer, a trigger, a cap roll support, a cap feed means, said anvil having a hole aligned with said passage, and means whereby the trigger feeds a cap to the anvil and releases the hammer to hit the cap, the bullet being propelled through the barrel by the combustion gas resulting from explosion of the cap.

5. A toy gun comprising a barrel, 2. cylinder for receiving a plurality of bullets to be aligned successively with the barrel, said cylinder having a ring of bullet supports and each support having a passage therethrough i the barrel being, propelled through the barrel by the combustion gas resulting from the explosion. of the cap.

6. A toy gun comprising a barrel, a cylinder for receiving a plurality of bullets to be aligned successively with the barrel, said cylinder having a ring of bullet supports and each support having a passage therethrough for propellant gas, the rear surface of said cylinder acting as a plurality of anvils, each anvil having a hole aligned with one of said passages, -a hammer, a trigger, means to support a cap at the anvil which is aligned with the barrel, an indexing means for said cylinder, and means wherebythe trigger indexes the cylinder and releases the hammer, the bullet then aligned with the barrel being propelled through the barrel by the combustion gas resulting from the explosion of the cap.

7. A toy gun comprising a barrel, a cylinder for receiving a plurality of bullets to be aligned successively with the barrel, said cylinder having a ring of bullet supports and each support having a passage therethrough for propellant gas, said bullet support being a cylinder dimensioned to freely slidably receive thereover a hollow bullet which is open at the rear, the rear surface of said cylinder acting as a plurality of anvils, each anvil having a hole aligned with one of said passages, a hammer, a trigger, means to support a cap behind the cylinder, an indexing means for said cylinder, and means whereby the trigger indexes the cylinder and releases the hammer, the bullet then aligned with the barrel being propelled through the barrel by the combustion gas resultingfrom the explosion of the cap.

8. A toy gun comprising a barrel, a cylinder for receiving a plurality of bullets to be aligned successively with the barrel, said cylinder having a ring of bullet supports and each support having a passage therethrough for propellant gas, a hammer, a trigger, a cap roll support, a cap feed means, an indexing means for said cylinder, and means whereby the trigger feeds a cap to a position behind the cylinder and indexes the cylinder and releases the hammer, the bullet then aligned with the barrel being propelled through the barrel by the combustion gas resulting from the explosion of the cap.

9. A toy gun comprising a barrel, a cylinder for receiving a plurality of bullets to be aligned successively with the barrel, said cylinder having a ring of bullet supports and each support having a passage therethrough for propellant gas, the rear surface of said cylinder acting as a plurality of anvils, each anvil having a hole aligned with one of said passages, a hammer, a trigger, a cap roll support, a cap feed means, an indexing means for said cylinder, and means whereby the trigger feeds a cap to the anvil portion of the cylinder behind the barrel and indexes the cylinder and releases the hammer, the bullet then aligned with the barrel being propelled through the barrel by the combustion gas resulting from the explosion of the cap.

10. A toy gun comprising'a barrel, a cylinder for receiving a plurality of bullets to be aligned successively with the barrel, said cylinder having a ring of bullet supports and each support having a passage therethrough for propellant gas, said bullet support being a cylinder dimensioned to freely slidably receive thereover a hollow bullet which is open at the rear, the rear surface of said cylinder acting as a plurality of anvils, each anvil having a hole aligned with one of said passages, a hammer, a trigger, a cap roll support,'a cap feed means, an indexing means for said cylinder, and means whereby the trigger feeds a cap to the anvil portion of the cylinder behind the barrel and indexes the cylinder and releases the hammer, the bullet then aligned with the barrel being propelled through the barrel by the combustion gas resulting from the explosion of the cap.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 629,820 Sanders Aug. 1, 1899 

